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[MSE Lawrence]

Poll started 18 Feb 2008:

How low would you stoop for cash?

You’re walking down the street minding your own business when you spot a coin on the ground. How much would it have to be worth for you to pick it up (assuming it’s not stuck down as a joke)? What's the least you'd stoop down for?

A. 1p. 34% (4664 votes)
B. 2p. 2% (210 votes)
C. 5p. 10% (1405 votes)
D. 10p. 13% (1762 votes)
E. 20p. 11% (1579 votes)
F. 50p. 16% (2226 votes)
G. £1. 9% (1295 votes)
H. £2. 1% (206 votes)
I. It's not worth it. 1% (144 votes)
J. It's not my money so I wouldn't. 2% (264 votes)

Total Votes: 13755

Voting has now closed, but you can still click 'post reply' to discuss below.

Thanks to everybody that took part

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[Kylie]

Depends where I was...

[ringo_24601]

I once dropped a pound coin in a Yates wine bar (oh dear, why was I there?) and couldn't pick up the courage to be seen picking up cash from the floor.

It's haunted me for years

[keelyjrs]

1p... see a penny pick it up all day long you'll have good luck... God did no one watch Grease?!!

My Dad always drummed it into me that it was bad luck to walk past money on the floor... he's bizarre though.. every time he leaves the house he finds money on the floor... and I mean EVERYTIME, seriously weird

[DdraigGoch]

I obviously watched "Grease"!

Generally speaking, if I find anything silver it goes into the nearest charity box, bronze and it's into my Sealed Tin [challenge on here] and if it's gold I look around to see whose it might be, then into the charity box with it as it salves my conscience!

[LimeLight]

I'm always being told I've got eyes like a 'sh!thouse rat' cos i'm always picking up money, especially at night.

[OddjobKIA]

i pick up all loose change and save it at the end of the year it goes to a charity of my choosing ( the most ive done so far is £93.41)

[OddjobKIA]

see a penny pick it up cuse no one else gives a ............uck

[brightonman123]

i found £30 (a 20 and 10) wafting down the pavement outside of work.. no one else seemed to be chasing after it, so that was lunch and bus fares sorted for a week!

[wigglebeena]

I'm superstitious about it. I feel like, if I'm too proud to lean down to pick up a penny, the day might come when I wish I had... Silly really.

[Contains Mild Peril]

Originally Posted by brightonman123

i found £30 (a 20 and 10) wafting down the pavement outside of work.. no one else seemed to be chasing after it, so that was lunch and bus fares sorted for a week!

If I find that sort of money I will hand it into the police station, then if it's unclaimed I can spend it with a clear conscience about 3 months later.It's interesting that most people would hand in a purse or wallet foud in the street, but few would hand in loose banknotes.
Coins, I generally assume that their if they're owner's noticed their absence at all they'll probably think they spent it somewhere, and even if they do realise they've dropped £1 or whatever they're not going to go to the police station asking if anyone's handed it in.
My answer to the poll question doesn't mean I would always pick up a penny though: it depends on a number of factors. I will not knowingly pick up small denomination coins from the street in front of my teenage son's schoolmates, but in the absence of witnesses I normally would. However, if it's raining and I'm laden with shopping, I'm not likely to put my shopping bags down and have to pick them all back up again for less than 50p. Unless I'm particularly skint.

[dazco]

Originally Posted by keelyjrs

1p... see a penny pick it up all day long you'll have good luck... God did no one watch Grease?!!

My Dad always drummed it into me that it was bad luck to walk past money on the floor... he's bizarre though.. every time he leaves the house he finds money on the floor... and I mean EVERYTIME, seriously weird

This is obviously a lie perpeptuated by the manufacturers of the penny.

As he bends down to pick it up a car door slams into his head, rendering the tough guy unable to drive a car.

I certainly learned a lesson that day.

[LandyAndy]

See a penny, pick it up and all day long you'll have a penny.

[Bisoy]

A penny is a penny and would not hesitate to pick up one. That's what I've taught my kids so everytime we visit town centre they tried to pick loose change as well and put it straight to their piggy banks. Once the loose bronze coins is £1 we put it in their bank accounts.

[my.ob]

See a penny pick it up
All day long you'll have good luck!!!!

[Exceller8]

Im sure i heard the saying somewhere every little helps. It is also one way of getting a regular workout if you don't have time to get to the gym so therefore saves money too.

[LimeLight]

Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck, pass it on to a friend, and your luck will never end.

[mountainofdebt]

On my way to work I often see loose change (most I have ever picked up is £1 ...usually either 1p, 2p or 5p) and have no hesitation in picking it up.

Strangely enough I've also noticed that the amount of loose change to be found drops in school holidays ......

[whatamess]

Teenagers tend to throw coppers away!

Last week I took my trolley back in Asda and someone had left theirs with the pound still in it. I put the two together got my token then pushed them both round to get the pound out.

[EDNA]

I always thought the saying was "See a pin and pick it up ...etc" but I hardly ever see pins on the ground so will happily settle for pennies.